Minerals Chart - Common Health Benefits and Recommended Amounts

The following contains the benefits and USRDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) amounts, plus the most common forms used in nutritional supplements. Note: These RDAs were developed for healthy people under normal healthy circumstances (i.e., no presence of illness or disease, no genetic problems, no exposure to harmful toxins, etc.) to prevent deficiency diseases.

In addition, the studies that were used to determine the level of a nutrient sufficient to prevent a nutritional deficiency over a short period of time- typically conducted for six to nine months. Nutritional studies with animals have shown that the amounts of some nutrients sufficient to provide health and the prevention of a deficiency disease for short periods of time may be totally inadequate to maintain health over the animals entire life.